Is This DU Hockey's Greatest Era Ever?

Credit: Rich Gagnon

The University of Denver hockey team knows what it takes to win. They’ve been here before.

After winning its NCAA-record 10th national championship in 2024, DU has a chance to earn another piece of hardware and separate itself further from the rest of the field.

Heading into its 20th Frozen Four appearance, Denver will face off against Western Michigan at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 10. The winner will play the winner of the Boston University-Penn State game in the championship on Saturday, April 12.

As the team gears up for St. Louis, we look at five reasons why this could be DU hockey’s best era yet. 

Senior Swagger 

The Pioneers' 2025 graduating class is the winningest group in program history, with an impressive 124 victories in their four years on the squad. Seniors Jack Devine, captain Carter King, and goaltender Matt Davis, along with graduate student and alternate captain Connor Caponi, were all members of the 2022 and 2024 national championship teams.

“We have a really special team in terms of our depth and the culture we have,” says King. “I think we're kind of riding the wave of momentum in the way we're playing and having success.”

Davis is a brick wall, and he always seems to find another gear come postseason time. His performance in the regular season has been impressive—but when the lights are brightest is seemingly when Davis is at his best.

In the NCAA Northeast Regional Final on March 30, Davis made 35 of 36 saves in DU’s 3-1 victory over Boston College. 

He says he’s preparing for the semifinal the same way he does for any game. “You know, just getting ready, making sure my body’s feeling good, my mind’s feeling good.” 

With only a maximum of two games left in his collegiate career, Davis says, “You’ve got to enjoy it. It goes by super quick. Feels like you blink—you go from stepping foot on campus in the summer for the first time as a freshman, and next thing you know, you're playing your last game.” 

Forward Jack Devine is the team’s engine; he knows just how to get the offense going. Leading the nation in points (57) and assists (44), Devine was named a Top 10 Hobey Baker Award finalist this year, alongside sophomore defenseman Zeev Buium.

Devine says he’s excited to not only play before a large crowd of alumni, fans, and several of his family members but also to play the team that beat them in the NCHC Championship Game just a few weeks ago.

“I think we know what Western Michigan did to us a couple weeks ago that left a sour taste in our mouth, and I think it's exciting that we have an opportunity to go out there and play them again, and we're not going to take them lightly,” Devine says.

Connor Caponi is a physical presence on the ice and known as an “energy guy.” And he has more game-time experience than anyone, holding the team record for most games played at 184. He broke DU’s record on Feb. 8 when he played his 169th game against Arizona State. 

With all that experience, he says his advice for his younger teammates and future Pioneers is to remember that it’s not about one person—you need everyone on the team to reach the highest level.

“You have to really believe and rely on teammates that they’re going to do their job. They see the same in me, and I think that’s how we get it done. It’s just believing in each other,” Caponi says.

Magness Magic

At the heart of the team’s success is their Magness Arena home and the best fans in college hockey.

From students camping out overnight for tickets at the annual Hockey Night Lights to fans standing arm in arm to sing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Road” at every game to alumni coming together at watch parties across the country, there’s something magical about DU hockey fandom. 

For senior Sydney Gutierrez, cheering on the hockey team is one of her favorite parts about being a student here—in fact, it was one of the reasons she decided to come to DU, after going to a game in 2017.

“It’s a great way to connect with your friends and even people you might not be as close with,” she says. “Sharing the love of hockey and school spirit brings everybody closer together.”

As Gutierrez cheers on the Pioneers this week, she says the chance of a third national championship in her time at DU is “a true show [of] how great the hockey program is and how dedicated the school itself is to its success and the support of college hockey.”

The Kings of College Hockey

As Richard and Kitzia Goodman Hockey Head Coach David Carle said after DU won its 10th national title a year ago, “We are the indisputable best program in college hockey. You could have argued it a couple of months ago, but you can’t argue it anymore.”

With a proud history dating back to its first national championship in 1958, DU’s record-breaking win last year earned the team the title of “Kings of College Hockey.”

The last 20 years is an era that won’t soon be forgotten. Half of DU’s national championships have been won since the turn of the century—in 2004, 2005, 2017, 2022, and 2024—and no team has won more than DU.

In St. Louis, Denver could become the first program to win back-to-back championships since Minnesota Duluth in 2018 and 2019. Further, DU is one of two programs to college hockey history to win three titles in a four-year span. They could be the first NCAA team to win three titles in four years since they did it themselves in 1958, 1960, and 1961.

Talent Up and Down the Bench

This year’s team has scored the most goals in the country (172) through 43 games, and is tied for first with Western Michigan by averaging four per game. DU ranks No. 7 in scoring defense, allowing only 91 goals over 43 games, an average of 2.12 goals per game. The hockey program has also extended its school record of winning 30 or more games to now four straight seasons.

One player continues to shine bright in the two short years he’s been on the team: Zeev Buium. He was recently named one of three “Hat Trick Finalists” for the 2025 Hobey Baker Award, which will be given out on Friday during the Frozen Four weekend.

The annual award recognizes college hockey's most outstanding player who exemplifies character, sportsmanship, academic achievement, and excellence on the ice. Buium would be the third Denver player in the program’s history to win the award. 

He was already named Player of the Year in the NCHC and was drafted No. 12 overall in the first round by the NHL’s Minnesota Wild in June 2024.

The Bench Boss: Head Coach David Carle

The success of Head Coach David Carle speaks for itself. Over the last seven seasons, he has led the team to two national championships, an NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship, two Penrose Cups, and four Frozen Four berths. This season, the team posted a 31-11-1 record, with a 15-5-1 record at home. On the side, he also coached the U.S. to gold twice at the World Junior Championship the past two years.

But what his players say about him and the impact he’s had also speaks volumes.

“I know for a fact I wouldn't be in the spot I am today without him, and I feel like a lot of guys in this program feel the same way. He’s the best coach I've ever had, and he's taken this program to new heights,” Devine says.

For King, that support from Carle has occurred both on and off the ice.

“You go to college, you go through some struggles, and you mature as a person. He’s always been there to support me with schooling and everything on the ice. I've really appreciated his honesty and his feedback on what I need to improve on over the years,” he says.

Through the ups and downs of this season—and throughout the past several seasons—everyone agrees that coach Carle has remained the cool, calm, and collected leader the team needs to succeed.